BIOTECHNOLOGIES

The course is a key component of the curriculum for the Master's degree in Biotechnology for the Environment and Sustainable Development, designed to provide students with the expertise necessary to work in the biotechnology sector.
Specifically, the course aims to offer in-depth theoretical knowledge on advanced technologies focused on the valorization of renewable resources and energy, bioremediation of degraded or contaminated soils, biofertilization, and bioconditioning of soils prone to desertification.
Additionally, the course explores biotechnological strategies for the study and conservation of cultural heritage, along with a comprehensive examination of food biotechnology, with particular emphasis on fermentation processes, biotransformations, and the utilization of waste and by-products from the food industry through applied microbial biotechnology.
The course also aims to provide students with a solid theoretical foundation and an update on advanced biotechnological applications in the industrial, environmental, and food sectors.

Knowledge and Understanding:
Graduates possess knowledge of biotechnological techniques for biofuel production, natural resource valorization, soil bioremediation, biofertilization, cultural heritage conservation, and food biotechnology, including microbial transformation processes in industrial settings and fermentation processes for the production of high-value products derived from food and industrial waste.
Ability to Apply Knowledge and Understanding:
Graduates are capable of evaluating the best technologies and biotechnologies applied to soil bioremediation, biofertilization, organic waste valorization, bioenergy production, biofuels, and bio-based compounds, as well as food biotechnology and cultural heritage conservation.
Judgment Autonomy:
Graduates are skilled in processing complex information and data from diverse sources, analyzing, manipulating, and integrating them to produce clear and accurate summaries. They are able to draw relevant conclusions and propose concrete actions, considering the scientific, technical, and practical aspects of the solutions. Additionally, they can independently evaluate the environmental impacts of a production process, in terms of human health and ecosystem effects, and identify potential improvements to optimize sustainability.
Communication Skills:
Graduates will acquire appropriate written and oral communication skills, as well as modern competencies to analyze, propose, and critically discuss experimental data with both specialist and non-specialist audiences. This includes presenting and disseminating experimental data and discussing current issues related to the development of biotechnology.
Learning and Communication Capacity:
Graduates will develop the ability to learn and deepen their understanding of innovative research aspects and to address current issues in applied biotechnology across industrial, environmental, and food sectors.

For a clearer understanding of the topics covered in the course, a basic knowledge of microbiology, biochemistry, and molecular biology is recommended.

Microbial Biodiversity: Analysis of microbial diversity in natural and industrial environments, with a particular focus on ecological dynamics and interspecies interactions.
Metabolic Diversity of Microorganisms: Examination of the diverse metabolic pathways of microorganisms, their adaptive capacities to extreme and variable environmental conditions, and their impact on biogeochemical cycles.
Ecological Functions of Microorganisms: Study of the role of microorganisms in biogeochemical cycles and ecosystem services, including processes of mineralization and nutrient recycling.
Microbial Ecology and Soil Biodiversity: Analysis of the ecological and economic impacts of microorganisms in soil, with a special emphasis on the effects of climate change on microbial biodiversity.
Biological Technologies for Soil Restoration and Desertification Mitigation: Investigation of biological technologies using phototrophic microorganisms and other biotechnological approaches for the rehabilitation of degraded soils and combating desertification.
Methodologies for Microbiota and Microbiome Characterization: Culture-dependent and culture-independent approaches for characterizing microbiota and environmental microbiomes, employing advanced molecular techniques such as DNA sequencing.
Environmental Applications of Biotechnologies: Techniques for environmental monitoring, the use of biological markers, bioremediation, composting, wastewater treatment, and bioremediation.
Production of Microbial Biomass: Production and use of starter cultures for the manufacture of fermented foods and beverages, with attention to innovative techniques for microbial screening, selection, and fermentation methods.
Production of Primary Metabolites: Study of the biosynthesis and production processes of organic acids, vitamins, amino acids, and alcohols, and their industrial and biotechnological applications.
Production of Secondary Metabolites: Synthesis and applications of exopolysaccharides (EPS) and antibiotics, focusing on biosynthetic mechanisms and the industrial utilization of these metabolites.
Production of Hydrogen and Biopolymers (PHB) from Biomass: Study of the processes involved in hydrogen production and biopolymers through dark fermentation and photofermentation.
Advanced Biotechnological Approaches for Cultural Heritage Conservation: Study of innovative biotechnological techniques applied to the conservation of cultural heritage, including the use of microorganisms and biopolymers for the protection of artistic and historical materials.
Valorization of Industrial and Food Waste: Biorenfinery approaches for the valorization of industrial and food waste, with a particular focus on their recovery in a circular economy and sustainability context.

The course materials include resources provided by the instructor, such as peer-reviewed articles and comprehensive scientific reviews.

The examination consists of an oral assessment lasting approximately 20 minutes, aimed to evaluate the student's depth of knowledge and understanding of the topics covered in the course, as well as their ability to establish correlations between these topics. The oral examination will also assess the student's communication skills and proficiency in technical language, specifically in relation to the subjects discussed. In addition, the evaluation will include the submission of individual or group reports on specific topics and projects assigned by the instructor during the semester, with subsequent presentations to the class. This approach will facilitate the assessment of the student's ability to synthesize complex information and their aptitude for collaborative work.

Classroom teaching and assignment of reviews and scientific articles.

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